Bellin Health offers new medical alert device

11/28/2008

GREEN BAY — Bellin Health now offers an advanced medical alert system for its patients, for seniors and people with medical conditions or physical challenges.

The alert system, called Sololife, is designed to provide emergency assistance during a health crisis.

“This is a service we’re providing our patients, their families and friends and the general public across Northeast Wisconsin,” said Amy Dettman, director, Bellin Medical Group. “Sololife is designed to assist its users during health crisis situations by affording them 24-hour monitoring by emergency medical technicians.”

For example, when David Byrnes’ 84-year-old mother fell outside in February and couldn’t stand up, she was able to call for help immediately by pressing the button on her emergency medical alert system.

“She was very fortunate,” said Byrnes, who works for Sololife. “She could have frozen laying out there waiting for someone to help. She’s definitely glad she had her medical alert system and so am I.”

Sololife consists of a lightweight, wireless wrist transmitter – that can instead be worn as a pendant – and a home base unit, said Byrnes. It provides 24-hour emergency response services at the push of a button within 200 feet of the base unit.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. In 2005, 15,800 people 65 and older died from injuries related to unintentional falls; about 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls, and more than 433,000 of these patients were hospitalized.

Such statistics are case in point why a service like Sololife is important, Byrnes said.

“We’re seeing a generation of senior citizens who want to maintain their independence and are doing so longer than ever before,” he said. “Having a 24-hour medical alert system can help them do that.”

Bellin patients who purchase Sololife (a subscription to the service costs $29.95 per month) can also access a non-emergency button to be connected to their doctor’s office for appointments or health-related questions. The button can be programmed to call any number the user desires.